8 Chapter Eight

"Let's be friends!"

When Nicholas said that, I didn't think he was being sincere, so I just agreed with him.

After that, we spent more than one hour talking about the book before he had to leave. It was fun, more than I thought it would be.

At first, Nicholas was acting as an aristocratic child, an arrogant brat. I thought it was just a whim of him when he asked to see me last night. So it was surprising when he asked to us meet again.

"You don't know the other books of the author?!" It was Nicholas asking me, surprised.

We meet again, but now during the day. We were alone in a garden, far away from the main side. Nicholas agreed for us to not meet in front of others, he didn't ask the reason though.

Maybe it's shameful for him to be seen with a commoner. But, I don't care about his reasons, I just don't want problems. Who wouldn't think it is weird for a commoner to be friends with a Duke's child?

"I've already said that. I didn't read any other book from that author, Nicholas." I said, tired of repeating myself twice.

"Geez... You say that you are a big fan of the author, but you didn't read any of her books besides 'The Servant and the Prince'." Nicholas said that with a grin on his face, showing superiority.

For some reason, 'The Servant and the Prince' is the only book of the author in the royal library. The author's name is Bella De Cordival, she was a noble lady. I don't know much about her besides that. I think she is already dead by now, since 'The Servant and the Prince' is kinda old.

"I've never said I was a fan of her. I just said I like her writing style. I'm a fan of her work 'The Servant and the Prince', not hers." I said sulking. I hate when Nicholas acts like he is better than me. I know he is an aristocrat, but I still hate it.

"Huh. How can you say that you like her writing style if you only read one of her books?" Nicholas asked staring at me like I was an idiot, giving me his aristocrat gaze.

'I want to punch this kid's face.' I thought, mad.

But I controlled myself. I knew if I did punch him, I would be in trouble. Not because Nicholas is a noble child, but because I know he is stronger than me, so he would punch me even harder. But, at least, I kept staring at him with a deadly gaze.

Nicholas then sighed and said. "If you want I can give you one of her books. I have one with me, I've already read, so you can have it."

I blinked twice unsure about what I heard. "Do you want to give me a book?"

I couldn't believe that. For me, Nicholas was just an arrogant child with no kindness in his heart.

"Yes. It's not like you can buy it, so it would be easier if I just give the book to you." Nicholas answered me like that was obvious.

"Thank you, Nicholas." I thanked him with a bright smile on my face.

I know that he was probably only giving me so he could have someone to talk about the book. But, it was the first time someone showed some kindness to me in this world.

But, for some reason, Nicholas blushed and then averted his gaze. "A-Anyway. If you want the book then follow me."

After saying that, Nicholas turned around and walked away, going to the palace.

Quickly I followed him.

Scared about seeing any member of the royal family, or being questioned about the reason why I was walking with Nicholas, a noble child, I was walking behind Nicholas and kept looking at his footsteps, hoping no one would notice me.

And no one did. Just then I realized that in the palace is normal for commoners and nobles being together because commoners are the noble's servants. So, probably, everyone thought I was just Nicholas' servant as well.

"This is my room." Nicholas said when we entered his room.

It was a big and luxurious room, even bigger and prettier than mine in the northwest area. Though, my bedroom is not as prettier as it was before, because of the maids' negligence, the wallpaper was torn and the room was dirty, full of spider webs. It seems like a horror movie room now.

"Since when did you live in the palace?" I asked him. I've never seen him before.

"I don't live here. I'm just staying here for a few days." Nicholas explained.

'Looking at his room, I imagine that he may be an important guest to the King. Well, Nicholas is a Duke's son, so that's probably the reason.'

"Why are you visiting the palace?" I asked, curious.

Nicholas was looking at a bookshelf when he answered me. "I am visiting my cousins."

"Cousins?" I asked confused.

"The princes and the princess, of course." He explained.

I was shocked. How could I forget that the late Queen was from the 'De Clare' house? She was the sister of the current Duke of Durhan, Nicholas' father.

"Here." Nicholas said giving me a book.

It was a small book. The title was 'The Dragon's Rose'. The author was the same from 'The Servant and the Prince', Bella De Cordival. That was the book he was talking about.

"Thank you." I said holding the book firmly with my hands. It was the first gift I received in this world. "What is the story of the book about?" I asked, curious.

"Find out for yourself, it's not like I will tell you." Nicholas said that with a small smile on his face. He was probably just teasing me.

"Alright, I will… So, let's go back to the garden?" Staying in the main palace makes me anxious.

"Why? We should just stay here. Do you want some tea? I will ask the maids to bring us tea." Nicholas just decided by himself without waiting for my answer.

"Here is the tea, Young Master." Said the maid serving us.

Nicholas made me sit with him in his room to have tea. I could see the confusion on the maid's face, seeing Nicholas having tea with a commoner child like me.

I know that my hopes for not getting attention are meanless now. Soon all servants will know about a servant child being friends with the Duke's child.

Well, at least, I can eat biscuits. It has been years since the last time I ate biscuits like that.

'It's so sweet…' I thought with my mouth full of biscuits.

"Did you like it?" Nicholas asked me.

"Y-Yeah... It's delicious." I said, ashamed. I was probably showing a weird expression just now.

Nicholas smiled gently. "I see. Then, bring us more biscuits and others things as well." He ordered the maid.

The maid quickly gave a small bow and said. "Yes, Young Master." Then, she left the room.

"You didn't need to ask for more Nicholas." I said surprised by his sudden action.

"Why not?" Nicholas asked confused.

For a moment I forgot who Nicholas was. Giving orders and having anything he wants at any time was just normal for him.

"Forget it." I averted my eyes, ashamed. Then I looked at him and asked changing the subject. " So… Tell me about your cousins, how would you describe them?" I asked, curious.

I can't deny the fact that I am pretty curious about my half-siblings. All I know from them is from servants' gossips.

Nicholas seemed surprised for a second, but he answered me. "Well… Dylan is calm and serious, although he is gentle as well. Everyone says that he is very talented, once I saw him training archery, and he didn't miss once!" Nicholas said, excited. It was something pretty amazing to him.

"I've heard that his Highness the King will choose Prince Dylan as his Highness' heir. Is that true?" I asked.

Here in the nation of Arhan, a noble with a title has to choose one of their children to be their heir, so no matter the gender, or if it is the oldest or the youngest child, any noble child can be chosen as the next heir. Though, usually, it's the first son that is always chosen as the heir.

The law that permits an entitled noble to chose any of their children to be their heir is kinda new, so the tradition of choosing the firstborn son as the heir it's still normal.

Surprisingly, Nicholas answered me, serious. "The King will probably choose Prince Dylan as his heir. But, that's not something for you to say so carelessly, Alex. If someone else heard you saying that, you could even be punished."

"I-I see. I'm sorry." I quickly apologized.

That news was shocking to me. I've always heard the servants talking about that so carelessly, so I thought it was normal. But, it seems that to the nobles that may be a delicate topic.

Nicholas then just acted like that never happened, changing the subject. "So, you were asking about my cousins, right? Well, Isabel is kind and gentle, she is pretty smart as well. I like her, but I'm closer to Noah, he is cool and funny, we are good friends, but we also fight a lot, he is too stubborn."

"I see…" I said staring at my already cold teacup.

'I've learned nothing new. Well, it's not like I want o meet them or something. Why should I even care about them?'

Someone knocked on the door. At first, I thought it was the maid bringing us what Nicholas has ordered, but it wasn't her.

Nicholas then said. "You may enter."

A maid opened the door, but it wasn't the maid from before. Behind her, a kid appeared and entered the room.

"Hey, Nicholas…" He greeted Nicholas, but then he saw me. "What are you doing here with this kid?"

It was my brother, Prince Noah.